Sidebar: Conway police officer, Scott Carpenter (left) explains the
goals of the Conway Police Department Explorer Program at the Main
Street Substation on Tuesday. The program is designed to introduce
interested youth to the world of law enforcement through hands-on
classes, field trips and officer ride-alongs. This first meeting was
held to establish youth leaders of the program which will officially
kick-off in August. It is open to males and females 14 to 20 years
old.

EXPLORING THE FUTURE

40 Attend To Hear Officials Address Drug's Impact On County

GREENBRIER -- A week of education about methamphetamine for
interested Faulkner County citizens continued Tuesday night before an
alert crowd at the Greenbrier Municipal Building.

After the program kicked off at the University of Central Arkansas on
Monday, the meth awareness program moved north and attracted about 40
citizens. Tuesday's presentation was a replication of the one
conducted the evening before, as a series of speakers delivered
roughly two hours of information about the drug that has invaded
Arkansas, especially its expansive rural territory.

Faulkner County Sheriff Marty Montgomery, Lt. Bob Berry of the Conway
Police Department and Joey Potratz, drug prevention coordinator for
the Arkansas Sheriff's Association, each offered basic facts about
the drug and its horrible myriad effects. Their comments were
complemented by those of District 20 Sen. Gilbert Baker, R-Conway,
and District 44 Rep. Marvin Parks, R-Greenbrier, both of whom said
their legislative capacity and the devoted effort of county law
enforcement agencies and representatives makes the battle against the
spread of meth a winnable one.

The legislative approach to the meth problem, Baker said, starts by
supporting law enforcement through supplying funding to the cause and
stiffening penalties for meth manufacture and possession. "As a
legislator," Baker said, "that's paramount for me." This session, the
first for Baker and second for Parks, did produce some successes in
the battle against meth. The amount of pseudoephedrine, the most
critical ingredient in manufacturing the drug, that can legally be
purchased at one time has been limited to nine grams. Since this
chemical is found in common cold medications, Baker said imparting a
limitation of this kind was critical.

But Baker said Act 1141 was the legislation that "just tugs at my
heart." That bill toughens penalties for those who manufacture the
drug in the presence of children.

Berry said both laws mentioned by Baker were sorely needed in order
for the fight against the drug to progress.

"The new law they passed is fantastic," he said, alluding to the
possession limitation statute. "We've been needing this for a long
time." Montgomery, who said the attention of the Faulkner County
legislators to the meth problem is an "asset," agreed that one of the
most tragic and unnerving facets of the meth problem is the frequent
and accidental involvement of small children. He said the sheer
danger of the product -- many of its precursors are toxic or
flammable -- can spell horrible results for curious kids. "This
shakes us to the core," Montgomery said, referring to the impact of
meth on children.

Much of the meeting was devoted to encouraging the public to police
itself. As he did Monday, Berry gave the Drug Task Force's
confidential drug hotline number -- 450-6135 -- and said that
anything suspicious could and should be reported. Like Baker, Parks
credited Montgomery and other law enforcement officials for being
active at the Capitol. He said their presence and persistence always
command the attention of the Faulkner County legislative contingent.
"Sheriff Montgomery has been in the middle of those sessions," Parks
said. "You've got some folks on your side."

But Parks said the active presence of the law enforcement community
is still dependent upon the public's assistance.

"They need you," he said. "Your willingness to be here tonight speaks
volumes." The meetings feature detailed slides by Potratz and a short
video in addition to the spoken material. The next meeting is
scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, July 23, at Vilonia High School, and the
last is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, July 26, at Mayflower High School.
For more information about the meetings, contact Jack Pike, Public
Information Officer for the Faulkner County Sheriff's Office, at
450-4914.